Hockey Academy

The sports academy program is designed to enhance individual performance and sport related skills for high achieving sportspeople. The opportunity for identified talent to train in the hours of daylight, with highly qualified coaches throughout the school year, offers these athletes the time to hone existing skills and to learn and develop a wide range of new skills. These include individual and team skills, tactics, fitness, nutrition and sports psychology. The ultimate goal for students is to work towards becoming an elite performer.

Aims:

The purpose of the Sports Academy is to achieve high performance from talented sportspeople within their specialized areas.

A mix of practical and theoretical studies is taught. The program provides a pathway on to academic success in Sport Science and Physical Education at the senior level.

The Sports Academy operates as a half year option subject.

The program provides both sport specific coaching and theoretical generic sports related studies with a major focus on Literacy over a 2 year period. This includes:

Literacy – learning through sport as the medium

Goal Setting and reflective journals

Principles of Training

Physiology and Anatomy

Sport Psychology

Diet and Nutrition

Injury prevention

Mentoring and Leadership

Fitness and conditioning

Skill development and tactical awareness

Video Analysis (numeracy)

Fitness studies

Hockey Academy Head Coach – Jimmy Grant

Meet the Head Coach

Department Members

Meet the Head Coach

Qualifications: BSC honours – Sport Science, FIH level 2

Experience: Mr Grant currently coaches the Roskill Eden Premier Men and Auckland 21s, prior to this he coached in Australia for Hockey Western Australia in their High Performance program. Before he left, Mr Grant was Head Coach of Auckland Men’s team, winning 3 National League Titles and also coached the NZ Junior Blacksticks. Mr Grant has coached and played in Europe and is ably supported at school by a number of enthusiastic staff.

Why I teach my subject: To provide the Academy students with world class coaching and education for the School’s best Year 9 and 10 students. Our aim is to improve every athlete that comes through the academy not just through skill enhancement but knowledge of the game along with S & C and nutritional guidelines.

Why I teach at MRGS: I teach at MRGS because I believe it is a school with great resources and untapped potential. I believe with quality coaching, focused and passionate students the school can compete at the highest level.

Department Members

Mr Grant coaches the Academy classes along with guest coaches. Much to the thrill of the students, last year 5 x World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer from Australia joined the students for a masterclass.

Lalita Paopa (Hockey Academy 2017/2018)

Why I am studying this Subject: Hockey is the sport that I have decided to play for the rest of my life and I want to develop my skills both technically and tactically to allow me to improve and become a professional Hockey player. Every Hockey session that I participate in is one step closer to reaching my full potential.

What this subject offers me: This subject offers me the chance to improve my leadership, communication, and teamwork skills that no other subject could offers me. The Hockey academy also offers me a chance to improve my understanding of Hockey, my Hockey skills and personal fitness.

Why I love this subject: I love the Hockey academy because it is where I most fit in, it is also a place where I feel most comfortable and can stand out. Most importantly this is the place where I can be myself and it makes me happy. This subject has taught me so many things, it also gives me the confidence to believe in myself and to believe that I can achieve my dreams.